Shoe-lace fastener.



J. C. ROBERTSON. SHOE LACE FASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10, 1914.

1,1 3%,1%o Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

THE NORRIS PETERS co.. FHOTO LITHCL, WASHINGTON D. c

JAMES C. ROBERTSON, OF CRESSON, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHOE-LACE FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

Application filed July 10, 1914. Serial No. 850,202.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JAMES C. Ronnn'rson, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cresson, in the county of Cambria and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Lace F asteners, of which the following is a specification.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and efiective device for use in securing the tip ends of shoe laces after the lace has been arranged in lacing position on the shoe.

The invention comprehends, among other features, the provision of a simple device which is of a neat and effective appearance which, applied to the shoe, can be readily arranged to secure the tips of the lace without necessitating the tying of the lace into a bow.

The invention further comprehends the provision of a fastener which will hold the lace against unlacing on the shoe and which, to this end, contemplates suitable clamping portions whereby the tips of the laces can be easily and quickly secured.

In the further disclosure of the invention reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, constituting a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in allthe views, and in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary perspective view of a shoe showing my device applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the fastener closed; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the fastener open; Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 44 in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 55 in Fig. 2; and Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 66 in Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the views, I disclose a shoe 10 having the usual l'ace 11 thereon and which is adapted to secure the upper of the shoe in the usual manner, the said lace having the usual tips or ends 12. A swivel 13 is provided for connection with the upper of the shoe and is connected to a plate-like section 14, preferably made of metal and circular in contour, said section constituting a lower section and preferably formed of stamped metalor the like. Hinged on this section is an upper section 15, said upper section being also preferably formed of stamped metal. The lower section 14 has a substantially rectangular opening 16 and the upper section also has a substantially rectangular opening 17. Secured in the lower section is a pad 18 preferably made of rubber or the like, said pad being cut out so as not to overlap the opening 16 in the lower section and also having one side 19 thereof cut away along a side 20 of the lower section so that the side 19 will be spaced from the side or edge 20 of the lower section as shown in Fig. 8. Mounted to swing on the upper section is a serrated securing plate 21, said plate being arranged to swing in a cut out portion 17 of the upper section and consisting, more particularly, of fiat pieces 22 and 23 secured by a transverse rivet 24 and spaced apart to permit of securing therebetween a suitable rubber or other pad 25 also held in place by the transverse rivet 24. The securing plate 21 has a projecting flange 26 provided with an opening 27 and through which is adapted to pass a head 28 of the spring-like locking member 29 to normally secure the plate 21 in locked position on the body of the fastener.

Now after the'lace 11 has been arranged upon the shoe as shown in Fig. 1, the securing plate 21 is swung into an open position and the tips or ends of the lace are then passed through the registering openings 16 and 17 and adapted to pass over the edge of the lower section and engage the edge 19 of the pad on the lower section. The securing plate is now swung into a closed posi tion and locked through the medium of the locking member 29, thus causing the serrated portion of the securing plate to grip the ends of the lace as shown in Fig. 4, and thus secure the same, as clearly disclosed in Fig. 1, with the pad of the securing plate engaging the lace and holding the same against the edge 20 of the lower section and against the pad 18 thereof. The upper and lower sections are prevented from relatively swinging open by a ring which, passing through both the upper and lower sections, is connected with the swivel 13 and which, in turn, is connected to the shoe as mentioned heretofore.

With a. device of the character described it will be apparent that the ends of the lace can be secured in position to prevent the unlacing of the lace upon the shoe and furthermore need not be tied in a bow as is now usually done.

The device is preferably constructed of metal and being made small and preferably circular will present a neat and effective appearance upon a shoe.

By simply disengaging the head 28 of the locking member 29 with the flange 26, the securing plate 21 can be swung out of engagement with the lace to permit of disengaging the lace entirely from the fastener.

It will be understood that various departures can be made from the construction shown herein without departing from the principle of the invention and that the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: V

1. In a shoe lace fastener, the combination with swingingly connected upper and lower sections, each having an opening therein, of a pad in the lower section, a securing plate mounted to swing on the upper section to lie in the openings in the upper and lower sections, said securing plate being adapted to grip a lace passed through the openings of the upper and lower sections, and means for locking the plate against movement.

'2. In a shoe lace fastener, the combination with swingingly connected upper and lower sections, each having an opening therein, of

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for a pad in the lower section, a securing plate mounted to swing on the upper section to lie in the openings in the upper and lower sections, said securing plate being adapted to grip a lace passed through the openings of the upper and lower sections, means for locking the plate against movement,'and a pad on the securing plate whereby the said lace, when the plate is secured in locked position, will pass between the pad in they lower sections, and a pad on the plate, said lace passing between the pad'in the lower section and the pad on the plate.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES C. ROBERTSON.

Witnesses:

V BLAIR O. SEEDS.

7. J. MOKINNEY.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

